Momentum Calls For National Plan To Protect Malta’s Honeybees

Momentum has called on the government to introduce a comprehensive national plan to address the impact of Oriental hornets on local honeybee colonies, following substantial losses reported by Maltese beekeepers over the past summer despite investments in traps and other protective measures.

While the government has introduced awareness initiatives, training and trapping measures, recent losses demonstrate the need for a stronger, more coordinated and sustained response. The government has acknowledged that trapping alone is insufficient and that a wider approach is needed to address hornet populations in urban and residential areas.

Momentum is proposing the establishment of a dedicated task force involving researchers, beekeepers, pest controllers and local councils to investigate reports, locate nests and coordinate their safe removal. A central reporting system should also be introduced to record hornet sightings, nest locations, control measures and outcomes, allowing authorities to identify high-risk areas and evaluate the effectiveness of interventions.

Preparations should begin immediately for an early-spring programme to monitor and manage emerging hornet queens through targeted trapping and other scientifically supported measures. The task force would oversee the programme, ensuring clear responsibilities, adequate funding, measurable targets and the protection of other pollinators.

Public outreach should complement these efforts by educating residents on how to safely identify and report hornets and their nests, while encouraging responsible waste management and the use of secure bins to reduce food sources that attract Oriental hornets.

The party is also calling for compensation for beekeepers who have suffered losses, alongside assistance to help them rebuild their colonies. Recovery efforts should include producing local honeybee queens and replacement colonies from surviving Maltese honeybee stocks. Surviving colonies should be assessed for their health, resilience and genetic suitability, with breeding programmes designed to maintain genetic diversity and help conserve the native Maltese honeybee.

Momentum further proposes dedicated, sustained funding for agricultural research, including studies into invasive pests, pollinator conservation and the resilience of local honeybee populations.

Malta should make better use of relevant EU research and agricultural funding opportunities while strengthening collaboration with researchers and institutions in neighbouring Mediterranean countries. Existing research programmes provide a starting point, but the party argues that a broader, long-term commitment is needed to address agricultural challenges beyond individual funding calls.

Dr Alastair Farrugia, a member of Momentum's executive, said: “Malta needs an immediate response in preparation for the coming spring season and a sustained commitment to protecting its native honeybee. Professional beekeepers must not be treated as though they are hobbyists. Their businesses support livelihoods and contribute to local agriculture, food production and pollination.”

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